| Unit name | Dissertation - Applied Research |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPAIM0052 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Ashley Dodsworth |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This core unit is the final assessment and will provide students with the opportunity to apply and enhance the knowledge and skills learned during their studies on their respective programme.
The unit is provided subject to availability and on the basis of the partnerships negotiated by Professional Liaison Network. Students have the option to apply for this unit and then, if successful, they can then proceed with the unit. If not, students will be re-assigned automatically to the regular dissertation unit for their respective programme.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The Dissertation - Applied Research project will have both academic value and high relevance for practice, as students will work on a set research problem, developing a research question, and appropriate theoretical framework and methodology, and carrying out the plan of research. The tasks assigned for this unit will be closely connected with the programme subject and its Intended Learning Outcomes and will be the most research-intensive task they will carry out guided by their supervisor and the partner institution. Students will reflect on their experiences and to develop their research in dialogue with academic literature through an extended written portfolio. In undertaking this unit students will increase their employability and develop skills in line with the Bristol Skills Framework by applying the knowledge they have learnt throughout the programme to real world problems.
An overview of content
This is not a content-specific unit. If successful, you will be selected to carry out a research task in collaboration with an organization that operate in a sector relevant for your programme. As part of this process, you will be assigned a research task to implement autonomously with the guidance of the supervisor and the organization to which you are assigned. You will carry out the research and report the output accordingly to the partner organization. Finally you will write a report of your research that will constitute your dissertation.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit:
You will have gained valuable experience in carrying out a research task in partnership with an organisation addressing real world problems relevant for the programme in which you are enrolled. You will be able:
Learning Outcomes:
Though the successful completion of the Dissertation- Applied Research unit, you will be able to:
1. Construct a clear, central research question
2. Engage at a theoretical level with relevant approaches within their area of study;
3. Analyse and appraise existing literatures relevant to the research area;
4. Show evidence of independent critical thinking;
5. Identify, and adapt and deploy appropriate research methods to address the research question;
6. Identify relevant outcomes by way of summary, discussion and conclusion;
7. Convey research to both a public and academic readership, in a clear, well-written grammatically-correct style, and conforming to the conventions of academic presentation.
How you will learn
The dissertation will be supported by a series of lectures and workshops, (including one delivered by the Professional Liaison Network) the Research Design in Practice (RDP) programme, and will make use of synchronous and asynchronous modes of delivery. The lectures and workshops will focus on skill development for developing and writing a long research project, and skills-based training specific to engaging with partners including professional norms in the UK, researching and writing a dissertation including: SPAIS ethics process; dissertation proposal writing; dissertation structures. Students are assigned an individual academic supervisor and will receive regular one-to-one meetings.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Satisfactory completion of the placement (as defined by the contract signed by the student and the placement organisation)
As part of the formative assessment, the student is also expected to present their findings to their partner organisation, in a format that is mutually agreed upon between the student and the organisation.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
1500 word Research Plan (15%)
7,000 word Practitioner Report (85%)
When assessment does not go to plan:
If the student does not pass the unit, then they will be expected to rewrite the practitioner report and/or the dissertation proposal as appropriate to the circumstances
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPAIM0052).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
